Roll Call Tribute

Billy Ray Statham 

February 11, 1934 - May 12, 2024 

Our beloved Billy Ray (Bill) Statham of Pursley and formally of Dallas, Texas, passed away on May 12th, 2024 at 4:15 am at the Country Meadows Care Center. He was born February 11, 1934, in Mt. Calm, Texas to Gladys and Forest Statham. They moved to Powell when he was very young where he lived a full and happy childhood and graduated from Kerens High School. Bill then attended Texas A&M University, graduated from Sam Houston State University, and went to work for Dallas Power and Light (DP&L) until he joined the Army serving three and half years in the United States Military. He spent 18 months in Korea working in communications and then later served in the Army Reserves for an additional two years after returning home. Bill then continued his professional career at DP&L which later became TXU retiring 35 years later. During his successful career he was also heavily involved within the community through Jr. Jaycees, Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce, and the Lasso Club with the Dallas Chamber of Commerce. We are proud to say he was a Mason and a Shriner Knights Templar Commander at the Hella Shrine Temple in Dallas, Texas. Bill loved serving others. During this time, he married his bride and love of his life, Eleanor, and they raised their three wonderful children in Dallas for twenty-five years. Fun fact, Bill was extremely proud that while serving as the 1964 National Convention of the Jaycees, he had the honor of driving Miss America around during the ceremonies. Another proud moment was when he served with the White Rock Community Watch, he enjoyed using the two-way radios and acted as the eyes and ears for the local law enforcement.

Bill and Eleanor retired together and returned to Navarro County where they both were born and raised, they purchased their dream ranch in Pursley and lived there together for over 30 years. During that time, Bill started Statham Realty and Eleanor worked alongside him as his office manager until 2018.

Bill is preceded in death by his father, Forest Statham and his dear mother Gladys Statham, sisters, Valerie Holmes and Joan Baxter and his only brother Olin Statham.

He is survived by his loving wife of over 60 years, Eleanor Collier Statham of Pursley, his only daughter, Shannon Cowan and her husband David Cowan of San Antonio, his first-born son Billy Ray “Chip” Statham and his late wife, Ashley Statham of Rockwall and his youngest son, Forest Ray Statham and his wife, Stephanie Statham of Heath, Texas. Bill is survived by his nine precious grandchildren, Lauren Goodwin, Breelan Choruby and husband Nicholas Choruby, Zoie Cowan, Kayla Zint and husband Tanner Zint, Bailee Needham and husband Anderson Needham, Noah Cowan, Brenna Statham, Luke Statham, and Bella Raye Statham. He was blessed with three beautiful great grandchildren, Tate Gray Goodwin and Jake Forest and Jovie Choruby. Bill was one of a kind, a man of integrity, someone that we could all count on, and he loved his family so well. He was also blessed and loved by many lifelong friends and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

A visitation will be held Friday, May 17th, 2024 from 6-8pm at Griffen-Roughton Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at 2pm Saturday, May 18th, 2024 at Griffen-Roughton Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at Hamilton-Beeman Cemetery with Military Honors.